Kangaroo pepper-sprayed by police in self-defense

Two police officers in Australia defended themselves from a rogue kangaroo by pepper-spraying it.

Police were dispatched on Sunday to a home in an outback area in Queensland, Australia when an elderly woman was attacked and knocked to the ground by the animal.

Entering the backyard, the first officer was forced to use his pepper spray on the kangaroo to protect himself. The kangaroo then targeted the second officer, after which the animal was pepper-sprayed a second time.

A senior sergeant told The AP: "[The pepper spray] did subdue the animal and drew its attention away for the officers, so it worked.

"After that, it hopped away from the scene, but police could still monitor its location - it didn't go too far."

The injured elderly woman was taken to a local hospital where she was treated to cuts and bruises. She mentioned to The Courier Mail that she was trying to fend off the kangaroo with her broom when she was being attacked.

"I thought it was going to kill me," she said. "It was taller than me and it just plowed through the clothes on the washing line straight for me."